Lebanese Army pushes toward militant stronghold in Tripoli

TRIPOLI, Lebanon: Lebanese commando forces, backed by helicopter gunships, made a new push Monday toward the stronghold of a militant commander at the center of the four days of clashes that have rocked Lebanon's second largest city.

Security sources told The Daily Star that the Army had sealed off all entrances to Tripoli's vegetable market as troops prepared to storm the stronghold manned by Shadi Mawlawi and his partner Osama Mansour, militant commanders who are reportedly linked to the Al-Qaeda affiliate Nusra Front.

Meanwhile, troops thrust toward the inner part of the restive Bab al-Tabbaneh neighborhood, near the vegetable market, combing the streets.

The sources said the early morning push followed the evacuation of citizens.

They said there was no resistance from gunmen when the Army advance, also backed by helicopter gunships, began around 6:30 a.m.

Earlier Monday, unknown assailants tossed a hand grenade on a police station in the Tripoli neighborhood of Mina. No casualties were reported. However, three cars were damaged in the 5 a.m. attack.

Four days of running street battles between Lebanese troops and militants in Tripoli and the northern district of Minyeh have left at least 11 soldiers, 11 gunmen and six civilians dead, and more than 60 people wounded, in the worst spillover of the war in Syria into Lebanese territory since ISIS and Nusra Front briefly overran the northeastern border town of Arsal in August.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Tammam Salam and Speaker Nabih Berri threw their weight behind the Army in its battle against terrorism.

Meanwhile, the Nusra Front threatened to execute Ali Bazzal, one of 27 Lebanese servicemen being held captive by the Islamist militants, at 5 a.m. Monday after accusing the Lebanese Army of “cheating to gain time” and failing to meet its demand to end the offensive in Tripoli.

In a statement posted on a Twitter account, Nusra Front said it listed the name of captive George Khoury on the next hit list as a means of pressure to avoid a further deterioration of the internal situation in Lebanon.